EXHIBIT 99.1

[CAPSTONE TURBINE CORPORATION LETTERHEAD]



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                RICHARD ATKINSON NAMED TO CAPSTONE TURBINE BOARD

CHATSWORTH, CALIF--Dec. 9, 2005-- Capstone Turbine Corporation(R)
(www.microturbine.com; Nasdaq: CPST), the world's leading manufacturer of
microturbine energy systems, announced today Richard Atkinson has been appointed
to Capstone's Board of Directors. Atkinson is Vice-President, CFO and Corporate
Secretary of Pope & Talbot, a wood and pulp products business headquartered in
Portland, Oregon.

Before joining Pope & Talbot two years ago, Atkinson was with Sierra Pacific
Resources for more than 20 years, most recently as its Vice-President, CFO and
Treasurer. Sierra Pacific Resources is the holding company for Nevada Power and
Sierra Pacific Power, which provide electric service to most of the state of
Nevada and portions of eastern California. Sierra Pacific Power is also an
interstate natural gas transmission line originating in Oregon and is a supplier
of natural gas to the Reno- Sparks region.

"We are very pleased to have Richard join the Board of Capstone. His many years
of experience in corporate financial management and his background in the energy
industry make Richard a valuable addition to our Board," said Eliot Protsch,
Chairman of Capstone's Board of Directors.

Atkinson commented, "It is a great honor to become a member of the Board of
Directors of Capstone Turbine Corporation and to become a part of the company's
future course to success as the world's leading purveyor of reliable, clean and
efficient small-scale distributed generation systems."

ABOUT CAPSTONE TURBINE
Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.microturbine.com; Nasdaq: CPST) is the world's
leading producer of low-emission microturbine systems, and was the first to
market commercially viable microturbine energy products. Capstone Turbine has
shipped more than 3,200 Capstone MicroTurbine systems to customers worldwide.
These award-winning systems have logged more than 10 million documented runtime
operating hours. Capstone Turbine is a member of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's Combined Heat and Power Partnership, which is committed to
improving the efficiency of the nation's energy infrastructure and reducing
emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases. A UL-Certified ISO 9001:2000
certified company, Capstone Turbine is headquartered in the Los Angeles area
with sales and/or service centers in New York, Mexico City, Milan, Shanghai and
Tokyo.

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This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is used
in the federal securities laws, with regard to, among other things, the future
success of Capstone. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such
as "expects", "objectives," "intend," "targeted," "plan," "driving to" and
similar phrases. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous
assumptions, risks and uncertainties described in Capstone's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission that may cause Capstone's actual results to
be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in such
statements. Capstone cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release.
Capstone undertakes no obligation, and




specifically disclaims any obligation, to release any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of
this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

"Capstone Turbine Corporation" and "Capstone MicroTurbine" are registered
trademarks of Capstone Turbine Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned are
the property of their respective owners.

                                      # # #

CONTACT:   Investor and Investment Media: Alice Barsoomian, 818-407-3628
           General Media: Keith Field, 818-407-3615


KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENERGY, UTILITIES, TECHNOLOGY, OIL/GAS, FORESTRY